According to official statistics, container throughput at Saudi Arabia’s ports increased by 15.72% in July 2024 over the same month in 2023. According to the most recent data from the Saudi Ports Authority, or Mawani, the Kingdom’s terminals received 271,465 standard containers in July of this year, an increase from 234,592 in July of 2023. A 9.11% annual rise in handled tonnage brought the total to 27.38 million metric tons.
The rise is in line with the National Transport and Logistics Strategy’s objective of positioning Saudi Arabia as a hub linking three continents and a global logistics centre. It also supports Mawani’s initiatives to boost the effectiveness of port operations and the Kingdom’s connectivity to international markets, both of which promote domestic exports.
The company’s commitment to improving the King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam, which can accommodate a wide range of vessel sizes and kinds, is evident in the expansion as well, bolstering Mawani’s status internationally in the maritime transport and logistics industry.
According to the data, the Kingdom shipped 701,606 metric tons in general, of which 4.48 million were solid bulk cargo and 15.34 million were liquid bulk freight. In July, there were 622,856 container handling activities, which is a 14.4% reduction from the same month the previous year.
Livestock discharges from the ports increased significantly, reaching 506,016—a 127.6% increase from July 2023. But only 908 ships arrived in July, representing an 11.24% decline in marine traffic. Additionally, the number of passengers decreased by 31.8% to 52,191 during the month. There were 90,471 vehicles in July, an 8.64% decrease in traffic. In July, the number of outgoing containers rose by 7.78% to 228,031.
Mawani’s performance increased from 76.16 points in the second quarter of 2023 to 77.66 points in the third quarter of 2023, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, indicating advancements in the maritime industry.
Saudi Arabia moved up 17 spots to take 38th place worldwide in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index in 2023.
Reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s strategic position in international shipping and logistics, the country’s continuous rise in container handling and logistics performance improvements shows the country’s progress toward becoming a major player in global marine commerce.